The Philippine National Railways (PNR) plans to implement an automated ticketing system by 2015 to make fare collection more organized and stop freeloading passengers from taking advantage of the present system in place. Above photo shows MRT passengers who are more likely to have paid their fares prior to boarding the train.

MANILA (Mabuhay) – Commuters said removing Metro Rail Transit 3 General Manager Al Vitangcol III is not enough, adding he should be punished for the alleged large-scale corruption and mismanagement in the MRT system.

“Vitangcol should also be held accountable for failing to solve the train system’s major problems. The priority he gave to the MRT’s contract with big capitalists for the train system’s maintenance has made every train ride a hell for us commuters. He allowed the hellish reign of private contractors over the MRT’s maintenance instead of pushing for decisive government intervention,” said the Riles Laan sa Sambayanan (Riles) Network.

The group fears the firing of Vitangcol was to protect him of any accountability in the alleged extortion attempt of Czech firm Inekon for the supply of MRT coaches.

Vitangcol was sacked on the heels of new allegations that he awarded a maintenance contract to a relative in 2012.

On Monday, The Philippine Star reported that Vitangcol, in his capacity as MRT general manager, awarded a P517 million maintenance contract to a joint venture of PH Trams and CB&T in October 2012.

Arturo Soriano, the uncle of Vitangcol’s wife, is one of six incorporator-directors of PH Trams. He denied all allegations against him.

He said his wife’s uncle was no longer with PH Trams when it won the bid in 2012. “When they participated, he was no longer in the company but his name would appear because he is one of the original incorporators in the SEC papers.” (MNS)